20 Ruth gives a reading at the Swedish Ladies’ Aid

September 21, 1934

Dear Corinna,

You seem so well to like getting letters that I thot I would break my schedule and write once in between. You don’t know how I love to get your letters and hear what has happened each day in school. It’s just like you had run in on me and told me of it—because then I go on about my work and keep thinking about your letter just as tho you had been here. I never before realized letters could mean so much to a Mother. I wonder if my mother got the comfort out of my letters as I do from yours. I hope she did.

Well your Cicero seems to be going a little better. How about the Algebra? Glad the teachers are good about helping you.

Was I ever glad about your twin sweaters! You don’t know how many times I have poured over the sets in the Sears Catalog and wished I could send for one for you. Aunt Ev is very good to give them to you and they will keep you nice and warm. Your diagram of them was very good and I can just imagine how nice you look in them.

Well for once I made something small enough for you didn’t I? So it’s too small—the skirt I mean? I am glad you have gained tho. Aunt Ev is a good cook. Gloria said with scorn, “Kinny isn’t lonesome if she’s gotten fat”. Daddy said it would do you good to walk to school every day. Your belt line won’t be so small by next June maybe.

My reading at the Swedish Ladies’ Aid went fine. Everyone was so quiet and interested. Then Rev. Nelson got up and made about a five minute talk about it and the thots expressed in it. Winnie sang too that day—very nicely. Mrs. Arneson was there and she asked me to give the same Readings at their church at their aid.

I took some old black velvet down to Nellie Nordstrom and asked her to make me a tam—like one Mrs. Ethel Holm has. I hated to wear my old red hat another year and I know I’ll like this style very much. I’ll take a picture in it some time so you can see it.

I had a sick headache last night . Well it really had been coming on all day but it came to a climax about supper time and the little girls were so good to do the work up without me being around to boss them. Then they decided to both sleep upstairs in your room so I could be undisturbed. They felt big—running the house.

But today I’ve felt good and cleaned the whole downstairs and baked some rusk bread. Tomorrow morning I am going to surprise the family with home made rusks.

This afternoon Myrtle Arneson entertained in honor of Mrs. Bill Arneson. So I have been there—I worked on those Christmas presents I had started before you left. I have one all done—embroidered too.

Tonight we go to Chorus again. I am going to knead some bread before I go.

I will enclose Gloria’s letter. Harriet reads all yourletters but it’s too much of an effort for Gloria. But she wanted to see the part that tells about what you are sending her today.

We will look for a letter from you, Russell. Harriet and Gloria will answer you I know if you will write to them.

I am sending you pictures I took. You look fat in yours.

We had a hard frost last night—all the zinnias and foliage plants are gone. The calendula South of the house are still lovely. Well–Love to my little girl and all the rest,

Mother.